Demonetisation: Cashless ATMs Increase People’s Woes in West Bengal

Representative Image

Kolkata: Cashless ATMs is the new normal for people who are forced to stand in long queues in front of a few that are dispensing money.

To add to people's woes, ATMs which were operational in the morning hours were mostly dispensing Rs 2000 currency notes.

Annoyed people in queues in front of ATMs and banks said chasing own money has now become a new way of life.

ATMs in rural Bengal remained mostly dry.

The people are complaining that despite seeking to withdraw money within the weekly limits set by the government, bank personnel are asking them not to write the amount as the final amount would be decided by the bank.

"Functioning at the bank branch level in respect of limit to withdrawing money is widely different from what the government is claiming. Branches are declining to give cash up to the permissible limit of Rs 24,000 a week," a middle aged man standing in a queue said.

"Moreover the government itself is modifying rules almost on a daily basis," he added.

A cash management services company official said supply of new Rs 500 currency notes will improve in a day or two which will help in managing the dearth of high value notes to a great extent.

Most of the ATMs are been recaliberated to accomodate new Rs 500 notes.

SBI manintained that it is meeting cash demand from ATMs and branches adequately.